Individual springing



SePt- 26,. 1939.' J. w. LEIGH-roN 2,173,973

INDIVIDUAL SPRINGING Filed July 6, 1937- 2 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNE V5.

Sept. 26, 1939. J. w. I ElGHToN 2,173,973

INDIVIDUAL SPRINGING Filed July 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Ys'.

Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-*ica 4' mnrvmnar.sPmNGlNG .101m w. mman. nrc' umn, msn.

application July s, 1931; serial Nn. 152,119 '1 claim (ci. 2st-96.2)

yThe invention relates generally to motor. vehicles and it hasparticular relation to individually sprung wheel mountings.

One object of the invention is to provide an im- 5 proved individualwheel springing designed to simplify manufacturing and assemblingoperations and to reduce the cost thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simpler form ofindividual springing which eni ables elimination of parts and themanufacture of certain of the parts from sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for sealingpivotal connections in an individual springing so as to prevent the lingress of dirt and the escape of lubricant.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, the drawings to which it relates, and from the claimshereinafter set forth. For a. better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a vehicle chassis illustrating wheel springingconstructed according to one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is across-sectional view on a large scale taken substantially along the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4lof Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame is indicated at I0 and comprises sidemembers Il and I2 `and an intermediate cross frame member I3. Thelindi-- vidual springing for each side of the frame is the same andtherefore reference in detail to the arrangement at one side issulcient. Certain parts of the structure illustrated are embodied andclaimed in an application for patent of mine, Serial No. 152,120, ledJuly 6, .1937, and in so far as these parts are concerned, referencewill be made to them only in general terms.

As shown by Figures 2, 4, and 5, the individual springing comprisesanrupper Wishbone I5 having oppositely offset inner and threaded ends I6and I1 that have pivotal threaded engagement with brackets' I8 and I9secured to the frame member I2. The lower Wishbone is indicated at 2l,and the inner ends thereof have polygonal openings receiving a polygonaltorsion bar 22 that extends rearwardly and is anchored against turningin a bracket 24 on the cross-frame member I3. At its front end, thetorsion bar is provided with externally threaded bushings 26 and 21 thathave pivotal threaded engagement with brackets 22 and 29 secured to theframe member I2. Upset portions 30 and 3| on the torsion bar hold theWishbone and bushings in axial position, it being understood of .coursethat the bushings I turn with the torsion bar as the latter is turnedtorsionally by vertical movement of the wishbone.

A shock absorber 33 hasl one end connected to a bracket arm 34 securedto the frame member l0 I2 and its other end secured to a second bracketmember 35 on the lower Wishbone 2|.

As indicated above, these parts and the arrangement thereof, to whichonly general reference has been made, are disposed in and claimed 15 inthe copending application to which reference has been made. The presentinvention is concerned principally with the mounting of the wheel on theouter ends of the two Wishbone members mentioned. 20

'Now referring to'Figures 4 and 5. it will be noted that theupper'wishbone I 5 has an integral, transverse, or apex portion 40 .andthat similarly the lower Wishbone 2| has a portion 4I. It may bementioned that each of the wishbones may 25 be constructed of round barstock that is upset at its ends to provide the bearing portionsorportions engaging the torsion bar, as the case may be, and that the apexportion ,40 and the similar portion 4I on the two wishbones,respectively, may 30 be enlarged by metal upsetting operations', asindicated ats 42 and 43 respectively. Each of the portions 40 and 4I hasa tapered opening, indicated at 44, and these openings respectively areadapted to receive ball shanks 45 and 46 that are '35 heldin theopenings by means of nuts 41 threadedly engaging their inner ends. Asshown best by vFigure 2, the shanks 45 and 46 are turned downwardly andon their ends are provided with balls 48 and 49. It will be observedthat the ball l0 shanks, as well as the balls, are of different sizes,that is, the ball and ball shank on the upper Wishbone are smaller thanthe ball and ball A shank on the lower Wishbone. It may-be notedadditionally that the center of the lower ball is positioned outwardly aslightly greater distance than the center of the upper ball 48 so as toproperly position the axis of swinging movement of the wheels.Furthermore, the balls will be located slightly out of verticalalignment, so as to 50 obtain a proper caster angle.

Now referring to Figures 2 and 3 particularly, the means for mounting awheel on the :outer -ends of the wishbones comprises mainly a plate.member55 fashioned adjacent its upper end to |55v provide part of aball receiving socket, as indicated at 58,-'and similarly fashioned atits lower end-to provide part of a ball receiving socket, as indicatedat 51. A smaller plate 58 secured to 4the upper portion of plate 55 bymeans of bolts 58 is fastened as indicated at 60 to provide a partcomplementary to the socket portion 55, and these parts together providethe socket for the ball 48. It will be noted that the ball or shankopening for the socket has an edge located in a plane substantiallynormal to the downwardly turned shank portion, and this is especiallydesirable in conjunction with the downwardly turned shank in thatgreater turning of the wheel is permitted without interference betweenthe A edge of the socket opening and theshank. A lower plate 52 fastenedto the plate 51 by means of bolts 58 similarly has a socket portion 64complementary to the/portion 51 so as to provide a socket for the ball48. The opening in this socket 'forthe shank 46 similarly issubstantially normal to the downwardly bent portion of the shank.Sealing gaskets 56 are provided between the plate 55 and the plates 58and 62 to prevent the escape of lubricant, i and also prevent dirtentering the socket. For further sealing points around\the ball shankwhere it enters the ball socket, a collapsible boot constructed ofleather, rubber or the like, as indicated at 18, may be secured at oneend to the plate 58 by means of the fastening bolt 55, and the other endof the boot may have a bead 1I retained by a shell 12, having a conicalflange 18 seated on the tapered'portion of the ball shank. A similarboot 15 may be associated with the lower ball shank. It might bementioned that the inner end of each boot has a ilange which is securedby the fastening bolts to the respective plates, and also that a metalgasket plate may hold this flange in place.

Backing plates 88 and 8| are secured to the plate 55 by means of bolts82, and these bolts also secure an axle member 88 to these plates.

' For this purpose the axle terminates inwardly in a plate, portion 84through which the bolts pass. It may be mentioned that the axle isformed by upsetting metal, and that the plate portion 84 is also formedin this fashion, that is, the axle and the plate portion 84 arefashioned from metal by upsetting processes.

A brake drum indicated at 85 isprovided, and it will be understood, ofcourse, this is fastened to the wheel that is rotatably mounted on theaxle 83. The brake bands indicated at 81 are anchored to the plates 55,80 and 8| by meansof a pin member 89 held by the bolts 59, and similarlythe hydraulic brake operating cylinder 88 may be fastened to the plates,4it being understood that openings will be provided in the plates noton'y for fastening the parts thereto, but also to connect fluid lines tothe cylinder. It will be, of course, understood readily that the brakebands and cylinders may be fastened to the plates in different ways,although it is desirable, of course, that the interi r of the brake besealed, and it may be menti ned in this connection that the plates 8land 8l are circular and cooperate with the brake drum to provide aclosed brake housing.

'111e principal feature to be emphasized'is the wheel mounting, whichmay be constructed of inexpensive sheet metal, and the provision of balland socket connections between the wishbones and the plate. It is arelatively simple'matter to manufacture'the various plates, wishbones,ball and shanks therefor, wheel axle and the sealing means, and toassemble the parts. The cotistruction of individual springing issimplified by the invention, and the expense thereof is reduced.'

been Vdescribed and illustrated in detail, it wlll be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that varil ous modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a vehicle frame, upper and lower links pivotedto the frame and extending laterally therefrom, ball members on theouter ends of the linksrespectively, plate members secured together andfashioned to jointly provide sockets for the balls, and a wheel axlesecured to the plates.

2. 'I'he combination with a vehicle frame, upper and lower links pivotedto the frame and extending latera1ly.therefrom,'each ofsaid links at itsouter end terminating in' a ball shank directed at an acute angle to thevertical, a ball on the end of the shank, and wheel supporting meansincluding spherical sockets receiving the balls, respectively,` with thesockets having openings forr the shanks that substantially deilne planesnormal to thelshanks.

3. The combination with a vehicle frame, upper and lower" links pivotedto the frame and extending laterally therefrom, wheel mounting means atthe outer ends of the links, and a ball and socket connection betweeneach link and the mounting means, said ball and socket connectionsincluding ball supporting shanks projecting from the balls at acuteangles to the vertical, and the sockets having openings substantiallysmaller than the ball diameter but substantially larger than the shankand which lie inplanes substantially normal to the shanks. 4. Thecombination with a vehicle frame, wheel mounting means comprising avertically disposed connected to the frame, a ball shank connected nextto and in contact with the rst plate, a wheel axle extending laterallyfrom the first plate. means securing the plates and axle membertogether, and linkage' pivotally connecting the upper and loweryportions of the nrst plate to the vehicle frame.

7. The combination with a vehicle frame, wheel mounting means comprisinga substantially vertical eet metal plate located in a plane extendinsubstantially vertically and longitudinally of the vehicle, a brake drumbacking plate disposed next to and in contact with the rst plate, awheel axle extending laterally from the rst plate, means securing theplates and axle member together, means forming upper and lower ballsockets on the rst plate and comprising ball socket depressions in suchplate and separate plate elements fastened to the rst plate and havingsocket depressions complementary to the rst depressions, and linkagepivotally connected to the frame and having balls plvotally received

